Our Punta Cana expert answers your most pressing travel questions
Crystal clear water, sugary white-sand, beachfront resorts… That’s our kind of vacation. And the Dominican Republic has all of it and more. Take a look at our Punta Cana forum and you’ll see tons of info on the area from Sly (AKA Slyguy23). He’s been taking an annual retreat to the DR for the past 30 years, and although he’s been around the whole island, he keeps returning to Punta Cana. “It blew me away—the people, the climate, the beaches, the energy, everything.”
Now, he’s answered your top questions—everything from the best adults-only resorts to the secret beaches of your castaway dreams. Read on for his expert Punta Cana tips and tricks.
TRIPADVISOR: “I’m planning a five-night girls’ trip. We’re in our late 30s and want an adults-only resort on the beach. It doesn't have to be extremely fancy or quiet, but we’d like to avoid spring break parties.”
SLY: There are 150 resorts in Punta Cana, 20 of which are adults-only. I’ve stayed at around 25 resorts and 10 adults-only ones. My favorite is Royalton CHIC (where I'm going again in two weeks). It’s a smaller (330-room) adults-only resort in Marriott’s Autograph Collection. Everything is top-notch and the amenities are excellent. Set on a tranquil beach, you’ll find Bali beds and lounge areas in the sand. It’s not a party place, but it does have classy entertainment options that lend a fun vibe. The events are very interactive (think: DJs, live bands, dance sessions.) That’s much more interesting than just sitting in a theater and watching a show. But it’s the food that makes CHIC special. Although there are only four restaurants, each has an extensive menu (you don’t see that at any other resort). For example, the Italian restaurant, Vespa, has 12 pastas, 10 pizzas, and a handful of entrees. The best part? CHIC isn’t as expensive as larger resorts like Secrets and Excellence, but the quality is equally as high. Live Aqua is a gorgeous second choice, if CHIC doesn’t have availability.
TRIPADVISOR: “We are a family looking for an upscale resort. It should have a kids club but also nice adults-only areas for my husband and I when our children are busy.”
SLY: Last Christmas, I went to Dreams Onyx, which shares amenities with Breathless, right next door. Dreams is a fantastic new family resort. The kids will love the large water park, lazy river, and lagoon pool. There is a kids’ club, a teens’ club, and activities all day. For very young kids, they've even got a saltwater wading pool on the beach. Meanwhile, Breathless is an 18+ resort, so some parents drop their kids off at Dreams and hop over to Breathless, which is very lively—I call it spring break for adults. Especially in the evening, there’s always something happening at Breathless: performances, music, bars, etc.
TRIPADVISOR: “I would love to find a quiet, under-the-radar beach. Clear water, soft sand, and few vendors. I’m renting a car, so it doesn’t have to be attached to a resort.”
SLY: Juanillo Beach is one of the nicest in Cap Cana. Secrets, the two Hyatts, Margaritaville, and Sanctuary are located on that beach. (Cap Cana is a gated community, but it’s still open to the public, so you can visit even if you’re not staying there.) Macao is an isolated beach further north, about 25 minutes from the airport. Dreams Macao Beach is the only resort and there’s a surf camp. Otherwise, it’s pretty deserted and you can have the whole beach to yourself. So that’s another area like Cap Cana where you're not going to have a lot of foot traffic or vendors.
TRIPADVISOR: “We want to spend a day at a beach bar with bungalows. We’d heard about Eden Rock Beach Club in Cap Cana, but wouldn’t mind trying a few of them.”
SLY: Surprisingly, there aren’t a lot of beach clubs. Helios and Zoho are near Secrets Royal Beach, and they’ve been recommended (though I haven’t visited myself). All the beach clubs in Punta Cana are between Bávaro, El Cortecito, and Los Corales. These are the three main areas due to the number of Airbnbs, restaurants, bars, and shops.
TRIPADVISOR: “I want to treat myself and bliss out at a spa. Which are the best ones?”
SLY: The new all-inclusive Hyatt Ziva and Hyatt Zilara (adults-only) in Cap Cana certainly come to mind when you're talking about high-end resorts with beautiful spas. Although, if it were me, I’d go to a local spa because the prices are half that. Flavio Acuna Spa offers massages on the beach (try the moonlight couples massage). Up the coast, Tropical Treasure does massages on a deck almost over the water, so you can hear the waves. It’s about a 10-minute walk up the beach from Dreams Onyx, and it’s only $35 for an hour-long, full-body relaxing massage.
TRIPADVISOR: “What are some unique excursions you recommend for a group?”
SLY: My friend Mike is a Canadian expat from Toronto. He runs smaller, private tours in the area with his company Punta Cana Mike. I think he's been doing it for nearly 20 years now. It's certainly not your standard large bus tour. He takes six to 10 people to places that aren’t tourist traps (you might go to a school or local restaurant). This way, he provides a realistic view of the culture in the Dominican Republic. Others that come to mind are Mike Fisher for deep-sea fishing expeditions and small-group boat trips, as well as Xtreme Buggy, which will take you down back roads to little villages and Macao Beach for a swim.